Automatic aerosol dispenser



Sept. 29, 1964 Filed Nov. 23, 1962 R. L. WEBER lH AUTOMATIC AEROSOL DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet l v. INVENTOR. Haber? L. WeberlZZ ATTORNEY United States Patent 31,150,800 AUTQMATiiC AERQSOL DEPENSER Robert L. Weber ill, Clapboard Hill Road, New Canaan, Conn. Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,473 17 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) This invention relates generally to fluid spraying apparatus and more particularly to motor driven devices for the periodic and automatic dispensing of pressurized material from containers such as aerosol cans.

For many years aerosol containers with manually actuated valves have been used for discharging fine sprays of atomized liquids into the atmosphere. Such containers or cans contain aerosols in which the fluid to be dispensed is in association with a liquefied gas. In the can is a spring closed valve with an upwardly projecting discharge stem carrying a spray nozzle in the form of a fingerpiece or button, the depression of which opens the valve to effect the dispensing of the active ingredient and the carrier in the form of a fine mist. The valve mechanism may be such that the spray is continuously discharged as long as the nozzle is held depressed, or it may be of the metering type in which the depression of the nozzle causes a single burst of spray. In recent years there have been marketed devices for automatically operating the nozzles of such aerosol cans at timed intervals such as one, five, fifteen or more minutes. Such automatic actuators have used slow speed electric motor units to periodically operate some form of mechanism that engages the valve nozzle or button fixed to the top or" the tubular discharge stem of the valve mechanism.

The active ingerdients in the sprays from such aerosol containers may be of various kinds such as an insecticide to control flying insects in homes, eating places, food stores and greenhouses, an air purifier to sanitize and eodorize the air in hospitals, food stores, restaurants and kennels, and a chemical to produce a fragrant odor such as evergreen, spice, chocolate, or hickory smoke useable in retail stores, specialty shops and food stores to aid in selling various products.

Gne object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic spray timing device of the above indicated character which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, reliable and durable in operation and attraction in design.

Another object is to provide in a device of the above indicated character an improved spring and electric motor driven cam mechanism for periodically reciprocating an actuator which directly actuates the dispensing valve stem of the aerosol container.

Another object is to provide a device of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph, with means for dampening the valve opening stroke of the actuator to prevent damage to the dispensing valve mechanism.

Another object is to provide the reciprocatory actuator for the dispensing valve with a spray nozzle to facilitate the mounting of the aerosol can or container in the device.

Another object is to provide means for suspending the aerosol can in the device so that cans of dilferent sizes and shapes may be used.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from the accompanying drawings and the hereinafter detailed description of the disclosed embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my automatic aerosol dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the casing of the dispenser showing the aerosol can operating mechanism in side elevation;

Patented Sept. 29, 1954 ice FIG. 3 is a front view of the device with the cover member of the casing removed;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line i4 in FIG. 3, with some parts in elevation and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the cam plate;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom View of the cup seal or stationary piston;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the snap-in ring carried by the aerosol can for removably suspending the latter in the device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line --9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the stop member carried by the piston-cylinder or actuator;

FlG. ll is a detail vertical sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 4 showing a modified form of cam and cam in mechanism for moving the piston-cylinder on the stationary piston in one direction;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are respectively side and top views of the cam member shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively top and edge views of the cam pin carrying member at the top of the pistoncylinder in the form shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a detail vertical sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 4 showing another means of cushioning or checking the drop of the piston-cylinder or actuator, in which oil is used;

FIG. 17 is a detail sectional view showing a modified form of seal between the valve stem tube of the aerosol can and the spray nozzle.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings, the aerosol, can 20 and the actuating means for the valve of the can, generally indicated at 21, are enclosed in a casing comprising a metal back plate 22 and a removable front or body portion 23 preferably molded of a suitable plastic. The body section 23 may be variously shaped and has in its front wall an opening 24 through which the spray is projected. The detachable connection between the two sections of the casing may comprise an upwardly projecting tongue 25' at the top of the back plate to enter an opening in the top wall of the body section, and a resilient metal strip 26 riveted to the bottom of the back plate and having an angular spring tongue 27 shaped to snap over a shoulder 28 formed by the outwardly bulged edge portion of the bottom wall of the section 23. The casing is preferably mounted on the wall of a room about seven feet from the floor by three screws inserted in holes in the back plate, cushioning and spacing grommets 2? of plastic, rubber or the like being mounted in such holes.

The aerosol can valve actuating mechanism 21 is disposed immediately above the aerosol container 20 and both are mounted on the back plate or support 22, preferably by means of a U-shaped bracket 30 having upper and lower arms 31 and 32. The bracket is a bent metal strip which has its central portion fastened by rivets or the like 33 to the back wall 22, so that its two ends or arms form parallel horizontally disposed supporting plates. The aerosol can it is preferably mounted by suspending it from the lower bracket arm or plate 32, as presently described, while the upper bracket arm or plate 31 is used to support the electric motor unit and the valve stem actuating mechanism for periodically depressing the valve stem 34 of the aerosol can. It is to be noted that the can used in my dispenser need not have on the stem 34 the usual spray nozzle head or actuating button.

The valve actuating mechanism Zl includes a reciprocating actuator 35, which carries a spray nozzle 36 that telescopes over the valve stem 34. The actuator 35 is moved in a direction to depress the stem 34- by spring means 3'7 and is moved in the opposite direction to cock the spring by cam means between the actuator and a power driven continuously rotating shaft 38 which revolves at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute so that the aerosol can will be periodically operated. I further preferably provide hydraulic or vacuum control means for slowing down or dampening the valve opening movement of the actuator 35 so that the valve mechanism in the aerosol can will not be damaged by movement of the actuator under the action of the spring means. In the present preferred form shown in FIG. 4, I use vacuum to dampen or check the valve opening stroke of the actuator 35 but in the modified form shown in FIG. 16 oil is used.

In the preferred embodiment the actuator 35 is in the form of a cylinder that slides on a stationary piston 39, these parts being concentric with the axis of the driven shaft 38 and also with the vertical or longitudinal axis of the aerosol can. The actuator or piston-cylinder 35 is suitably guided in its sliding movement, preferably by three equally spaced vertical guide rods 40, the ends of which are fixed at 41 to the supporting plates 31, 32. While the actuator may be made of a suitable nylon plastic such as Du Ponts Delrin, I preferably die cast it of metal such as aluminum or die cast it of a zinc alloy. It has an open top with a reduced edge 42 and a closed flat bottom wall 43 from the center of which depends a reduced cylindrical stem or projection that forms the combined spray nozzle and valve depressing member 36.

At the top of the actuator is a cam plate 45 that coacts with a cam pin 46 rotated by the shaft 38 to move the actuator upwardly against the tension of the spring 37 which is between the piston 39 and the bottom wall 43 of the actuator. The cam and pin actuating means between the shaft and the actuator is of such construction that the pin releases the cam plate once during each rotation of the shaft 38 so that the spring may act to move the actuator downwardly and cause the member 36 to depress the stem 34. The shaft 38 projects downwardly from the casing of a power unit 48 comprising an electric motor with a built in speed reduction gearing, the unit being mounted on the top of the plate 31 with the shaft extending through an opening in that plate. That projecting lower end of the shaft is formed with a cross slot .9 and is surrounded by a cylindrical bushing 50, preferably of metal, that carries the cam pin 46. On the closed lower end of the bushing is a reduced concentric cylindrical bearing stem 51 that rotates in a socket in the center of the piston 39 so that the spring 37 holds these parts together and holds the bushing on the shaft with its upper end thrusting against the under face of the plate 31, as seen in FIG. 4.

The cam pin 46 is cylindrical and projects diametrically of the axis of the shaft. It is of greater length than the diameter of the bushing 50, and it extends through alined openings in the latter and through the slot 49 in the shaft. One half of the projecting end of the pin is removed to give it a semi-circular shape in cross section to provide a flat face or side 52 (FIG. 16) to coact with the cam or helical portion of the plate 45. The pin may be prevented from rotating by knurling an end portion as at 53 so that When the pin is inserted in its aperture the flat face 52 will be disposed in a vertical plane which intersects the axis of the shaft. The cam plate 45 is preferably fixed to the piston-cylinder or actuator 35 by seating it on a shoulder formed by the reduced upper edge 42 of the cylindrical wall and then rolling that edge over the edge of the plate or disk, as shown in FIG. 4. The bushing 50 rotates freely in a central opening 54 in the cam plate, and the metal surrounding that opening is stamped to provide a cam 55 in the form of a single helix as shown in FIGS. and 6. A radial slit 56 in the plate separates the high and low points of the cam or helix on the bottom of the plate. As the cam plate rotates on the bottom face of the earn, it

moves the actuator upwardly against the tension of the spring 37, and when the flat face 52 of the pin reaches the slit 56, the actuator is released so that the spring moves it downwardly to cause operation of the valve mechanism of the can.

While the spring 37 might function merely to hold the bottom face of the cam in engagement with the cam pin, it is desirable to dampen or check the drop of the actuator 35 and its valve engaging element 36. In order to do that the stationary piston or cup seal 39 or some equivalent form of dash pot, may be used. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the piston is made cup-shaped and has a rigid circular portion 59 and a surrounding flexible upstanding flange portion 60 which has a firm sliding engagement with the smooth bore of the acuator cylinder 35. At the center of the top of the hub or body portion 59 is a socket 61 in which the bearing stem 51 of the bushing rotates and at the center of the bottom of the hub is a depending boss 62 to enter the top coil of the spring 37, the latter being preferably a tapered coil of resilient wire. The resiliently flexible flange or cupped portion 60 is tapered, as seen in FIG. 4, and is made of slightly greater diameter than the hub or body portion 59 so that it has a sealing engagement with the wall of the cylinder 35. The piston or cup seal may be molded of a suitable plastic such as Nylon Zytel #101 made by Du Pont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. To stiffen the body portion 59 an annular series of radially disposed and down- Wardly projecting ribs 65 may be formed on its bottom. When the piston is made of a plastic, I preferably use a thin nylon washer 60 between the lower end of the stem 51 and the bottom of the socket 61.

The piston 39 divides the interior of the actuator cylinder 35 into an upper chamber and a closed lower chamber 66 in which a vacuum is created during the downward movement of the actuator on the piston. A small bleed hole 67 is therefore formed in the body portion 59 so that the movement of the actuator will be dampened or checked. That hole 67 may vary from .010 to .020 of an inch depending upon the size of the chamber, but I have found that a Number 78 size drill making a bleed hole .016" for a piston having a diameter of about 1%" will slow down the valve opening stroke of the actuator 35 sufficiently to prevent damage to the metering valve mechanism of the aerosol can and give a correct spray pattern.

FIG. 4 of the drawings is on a scale of 2:1 and the motor unit I have used is a 115 V. AC. Bristol Motor Model 425 made by Bristol motors, a subsidiary of V0- caline Company of America at Old Saybrook, Connecticut. These motor units include a built in speed reduction gearing so that the driven shaft 38 rotates slowly at a predetermined number of revolutions, such as 1, 3, 5, 15 etc., per minute. The size of the room or space in which the dispensing device is to be used, will determine the speed of the slowly rotating shaft 38 and hence the frequency of actuation of the valve of the aerosol can. The casing 48 of the motor unit is mounted on the top of the bracket plate 31 to have a limited free floating movement since the shaft 38 should be in axial alinement with the parts of the actuating mechanism and the valve stem 34 to prevent strain on the gearing and other parts. Such mounting is accomplished by fastening the unit 48 with two screws or bolts 68 and using cushioning members 69 of yieldable plastic, rubber or rubber-like material between the casing 48 and the plate 31. The electrical conductors '70 to the motor may be suitably held against the back plate 22 and extend outside of the casing through a strain relief bushing.

The combined spray nozzle and valve stem depressing member 36 is formed with intersecting longitudinal and transverse bores 73 and 74. The transverse or horizontal bore '74 has an enlarged outer portion in which the commonly used plastic spray tip 75 is fixed. This tip is so positioned that the spray will be discharged through the casing opening 24-. The lower end of the vertical and longitudinal bore 73 is also enlarged as at '76 to receive a tubular sealing sleeve 77 which is at all times in engagement with the top of the stem 34. This valve sleeve 77 preferably has the lower end of its bore enlarged to receive the upper end of the stem 34. Since the fluid dispensed passes through this sleeve and since it is the part that directly depresses the valve stem 34 it must be made of a material that is resistant to Freon 11 and 12 usually used inaerosol cans, and also a material that can be repeatedly compressed without taking a compression set and hence will form a good seal with the upper end of the stem 34. I have found that an elastometer made by the Dupont Company and known as Viton B to be a satisfactory material for this sleeve. The lower end of the bore 76 is outwardly flared to facilitate the insertion of the valve stem in the nozzle member 36.

In order to limit the downward movement of the actuator 35 under the action of the spring 37 and also to prevent any rotation of the actuator and thus insure the spray tip 75 being at all times opposite the discharge opening 24, I preferably provide on the actuator a member 80 which slidably engages one of the guide rods 40 and is adapted to engage a stop on that rod. As shown, the member 80 is a flat ring-shaped plate disposed against the under face of the bottom 43 of the actuator and fixed thereon by an annular flange 81 molded on the bottom and projecting through the ring, the edge of the flange being bent outwardly as shown in FIG. 4. Formed on that member is a rearwardly projecting arm 82 with a n notch to receive and slide on the rearmost rod 4t). The notch. is formed by slitting the arm 82 and bending downwardly two portions 83 which are disposed on opposite sides of that rod and which are adapted to engage a stop sleeve 84 on that post 40 at its lower end. While the sleeve 84 may be made of metal, it is preferably made of a plastic such as polyethylene.

While the aerosol can may be variously supported in axial alinement with the actuator 35 and the shaft 38, many advantages are gained by suspending it from the plate 32 by a suitable kind of quickly attachable and detachable connecting means between the top portion of the can and the plate. I prefer to use a snap-on connection which may be madeof spring metal or resilient plastic. As shown, the connecting means is a ring-like member 88 suitably connected to the can or container 20 and having an annular series of upstanding prongs 89 which are beveled and shouldered so that they snap into a circular opening 90 formed in the lower bracket plate 32 as shown in FIG. 4. The manner of fixing the connector ring or member 88 to the can will depend upon the construction of the latter.

The illustrated can 29 and the metering valve therein are of well known construction. At the top of the body of the can is a neck portion closed by a cup-shaped lid or cap 91, the edge of which is rolled over the rim of the neck and suitably sealed. At the center of the cap is an upstanding tubular portion 92 in and beneath which is mounted a metering valve of the type shown in the Philip Meshberg Patent No. 2,721,010, October 18, 1955. Referonce may be had to that patent for the details of the metering valve mechanism, and such valves are made by Emson Research Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The metering valve mechanism within the tubular part 92 includes a trap chamber between upper and lower resilient valve disks through which the valve stem 34 is vertically slidable. The valve members of the stem coact with the resilient disks and a spring urges the stem upwardly to a valve closed position. A longitudinal socket or discharge passage is formed in the projecting upper end of the stem and near the bottom of the socket is a lateral opening 93 which is above the top of the portion 92 when the valve is closed. When the valve stem 34 is depressed, the small opening 93 passes below the upper hi valve disk and communicates with the trap chamber to permit the discharge of the pressurized fluid through the tubular upper portion of the stem.

The snap-in connector ring 88 may be fastened in the cup-shaped cap 91 around the central tubular projection 92 as shown in FIG. 4, by snapping or pressing it into the cap. The connector is preferably molded of polypropolyene such as Profax Hercules 6511 I made by the Hercules Powder Company. It has a cup-shaped body with a flat circular bottom wall 95' and a surrounding upwardly projecting side wall 96 which is formed with an annular series of vertical slots to provide the prongs 89. The bottom 95 has a central opening 97 of slightly less diameter than the part 92 and has an annular series of radial slits 98 to form resilient tongs or prongs 99 that frictionally grip the part 92. At the juncture of the bottom and side walls of the connector ring is an annular outwardly projecting enlargement or rib ltitl that engages a shoulder formed in the cap so that the parts 100 and 99 effectively fasten the ring in the cap.

In the above described preferred embodiment in which a cam and cam pin mechanism is used to lift the actuator 35 against the tension of the spring 37, the cam is carried by the actuator while the pin is carried by the shaft 38, but it is obvious that these parts may be reversed as shown in the modified form FIGS. lll5. In this form the cam is on the shaft and the cam pin is on the actuator. As seen in FIG. 11 the shaft bushing 50* has on its bottom a stem 51 which rotates in the bearing socket 61 of the piston 39, and in its top is a socket to receive the shaft 38. In the bottom of the socket is a diametrically extending rib 191 which enters the slot 4? in the end of the shaft to cause the bushing to rotate. The cam is formed in the cylindrical surface of the bushing by a single helical groove 55 and a vertical groove 56 that connects the ends of the helix. The top plate 45 of the actuator cylinder 35 is flat and has a central opening 54 to receive the bushing 59 Projecting inwardly of that opening is a tongue 52 which serves as a cam pin, since it moves in the grooves 55 and 56 This flat tongue or pin 52 is slightly bent or angled to correspond with the lead of the single thread or helix. In all other respects the construction and operation of the form shown in FIG. 12 is the same as that of FIG. 4. As the bushing rotates the cam pin 52 rides up the groove 55 to lift the actuator 35 and when it reaches the upright groove 56*, the actuator drops under the action of the spring. The bushing is preferably molded of a nylon plastic such as Duponts Delrin 500. A thin metal washer 102 is positioned between the bottom of the bushing and the piston 39.

In the modified form shown in FIG. 16, the construction and operation of the device is substantially the same as that of FIG. 4, but a form of hydraulic check or dash pot is used to cushion the drop of the actuator. In this form the cam plate 45', the cam pin as, the shaft bushing 5d and the spring 37 are the same, as is also the cylindrical actuator 35, but instead of using a piston with a bleed hole, I provide in the actuator cylinder a damper plate tilt, at flexible diaphragm of rubber of the like ill and a combined bearing and connecting member 112 in the form of an eyelet cup. The diaphragm is cup-shaped and its edge is sealed between the edge of the cam plate 45 and the upper edge of the cylindrical wall of the actuator. The chamber 66 beneath the daphragm is filled with oil 133, such as Dow-Corning silicone-E fluid #200 viscosity 100, through a filling opening 114 formed in the bottom wall 43 of the actuator and closed by a screw lid or the like. The damper plate is a flat metal disk which is stationary and has a diameter of from .008" to .0012" less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical body or" the actuator so that as the latter moves up and down the oil, sealed in the chamber by the diaphragm, must pass slowly from one side to the other of the damper plate, and hence cushioning the drop of the actuator.

The member 112 serves as a bearing for the stem 51 on the shaft bushing and also to hold the damper plate and the central portion of the diaphragm stationary, these parts being held assembled by the spring 37. The member 112 is a circular plate with a central depending boss 116 formed with a bearing socket for the stem 51. The plate has an upwardly turned rim and the diaphragm is clamped or held between it and the damper plate 110. The latter has at its center an opening with a surrounding depending flange M7. The diaphragm is molded with a closed depending tubular portion 118 in which the boss lilo is disposed and which is positioned in the r'lange or tube 117 of the damper plate. it will be seen that upon the downward movement of the actuator 35, the slow passage of the oil around the edge of the damper plate will cushion or retard its drop.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, but it may be noted that when the connector ring 85 is pushed up into the opening it the prongs S will snap into the position shown in PEG. 4 and the can will be firmly suspended with the stem sealing engagement with the sleeve '77. Then when current is supplied to the motor unit 48 through a switch on the device or otherwise, the shaft 38 will slowly rotate and the cam and pin means will periodically lift and release the actuator 35. Upon each release, the spring 3'7 moves the actuator downwardly to cause the valve of the can to be opened so that a spray of the fluid will be discharged from the spray tip 75. While the dampening action of the piston 39 or of the plate 11% might be omitted in some cases, it is desirable to check the downward movement of the actuator especially when a metering valve is used and when the dispenser is used in the places previously mentioned. It will be noted that by arranging the power driven shaft 38 in alinement with the actuator and the valve stem 3 1-, an extreme y simple operating means for the valve of the aerosol can is provided. The mounting of the spray nozzle on the actuator is another important feature of the invention and it has many advantages over the old practice of actuating a nozzle that is fixed to the valve stem. In mounting the nozzle on the actuator I have found the use of the valve sealing sleeve 7'7 insures the passage of all of the discharged material to the spray tip with no loss of pressure. Another important and advantageous feature is the suspension of the aerosol can by means of a quickly attachable and detachable connecting means between the top portion of the can and the frame plate 32. By using the snap-in connector cans of different sizes and shapes may be quickly and easily applied and removed and the spray will always be discharged in the proper direction.

H6. 17 of the drawings shows another way of providing a seal between the valve stem tube 34 and the spray nozzle 36. Instead of using the sleeve '77 in FIG. 4, I may provide the nozzle 36 with a bore 76 in which is formed an annular groove 7'7 for an O ring 77 of rubber such as {oughton compound #lOV70-112. The ring snugly receives the tube 34 and the upper end of the latter may engage the inner end of the bore 76 Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a device of the tion of (a) an upright support having laterally projecting upper and lower brackets,

(b) an electric motor unit with speed reduction gearing, mounted on said upper bracket and having a driven shaft extending downwardly,

(c) an aerosol container having a valve mechanism with a projecting slidable discharge stem which is spring actuated to a valve closed position,

(d) means for suspending said container from said character set forth, the combina- 8 lower bracket with said valve stem disposed in substantially axial alinement with said shaft,

(e) a reciprocatory valve actuator disposed between said brackets with its axis in substantially axial alinement with said shaft and the valve stem,

(f) means on said actuator for moving said valve stem,

(g) means between said brackets for guiding said actuator in its sliding movement,

(/1) cam means between said shaft and said actuator for periodically lifting and releasing said actuator, and

(1') spring means for moving said actuator downwardly to actuate the valve stem when the actuator is released by said cam means.

2. The combination of claim 1 together with means for dampening the downward movement of said actuator.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said means on said actuator is a spray nozzle which has a telescopic engagement with said valve stem and also has a laterally directed spray discharge passage.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the telescopic engagement between said nozzle and said valve stem includes a sealing sleeve which is set in the nozzle and is directly engaged by the upper end of the valve stem.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which a cushioning means is disposed between said motor unit and said upper bracket to permit of a limited floating movement of the unit and its shaft.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which said cam means comprises a cam member and a coacting pin member, said members being relatively rotatable, one member being carried by said shaft and the other by said actuator.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of (a) an upri ht support having laterally projecting upper and lower bracket plates,

(1)) a power unit mounted on the top of said upper plate and having a driven shaft projecting downwardly therethrough,

(c) an aerosol container having a valve mechanism with a spring projected slidable valve discharge stern,

(d) means for removably supporting said container from said lower plate with said valve stem disposed in substantially axial alinement with said shaft,

(6) a reciprocatory valve actuator disposed between said plates in substantially axial alincment with said shaft, said actuator comprising an open-top piston cylinder with a closed lower end and a spray nozzle depending from the center of said lower end and having a telescopic engagement with said valve stem,

(f) means between said plates for guiding said actuator in its sliding movement,

(5:) a cylindrical bushing surrounding the projecting end of said shaft and rotatable therewith and thrusting against said upper plate,

(/1) a stationary piston in said piston-cylinder and on which the latter slides, said piston having a bearing contact with the lower end of said bushing and also having a bleed hole,

(1') a coil spring in said piston-cylinder and thrusting against said closed lower end of the latter and said piston,

(j) a disk closing the open upper end of said pistoncylinder and having an opening in which said bushing rotates,

(k) cam means between said disk and said bushing for periodically lifting said actuator against the tention of said spring and then releasing it to cause the actuation of said valve stem.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which said cam means comprises a helical groove and an upright connecting groove in the cylindrcial surface of said bushing, and a cam pin at the opening in said disk to cooperate with said grooves.

9. The combination of claim 7 in which said earn means comprises a radial slit and helical cam surface formed in said disk at its opening and a diametrical extending cam pin in said bushing. to coact with said slit and cam surface.

10. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of (a) an upright support having laterally projecting upper andlower bracket plates,

(17) a power unit mounted on the top of said upper plate and having a driven shaft projecting downwardly therethrough,

(c) an aerosol-container having a valve mechanism with a spring projecter slidable valve discharge stem,

(d) means for removably supporting said container from said lower plate with said Valve stem disposed in substantially axial alinement with said shaft,

(e) a reciprocatory valve actuator disposed between said plates in substantially axial alinement with said shaft, said actuator comprising an open-top pistoncylinder with a closed lower end and a spray nozzle depending from the center of said lower end and having a telescopic engagement with said valve stem,

(f) means between said plates for guiding said actuator in its sliding movement,

(,8) a cylindrical bushing surrounding and rotatable With the projecting end of said shaft and thrusting against said upper plate,

(11) a bearing plate at the lower end of said bushing,

(i) a stationary circular damper plate in said pistoncylinder of slightly less diameter than the interior diameter of the same, and disposed beneath said bearing plate,

(j) a flexible cup-shaped diaphragm in said pistoncylinder having its central portion held between said bearing plate and said damper plate, the upper edge of said diaphragm being sealed to the upper portion of said piston-cylinder to provide a sealed chamber in said piston-cylinder,

(k) a viscous fluid in said chamber that moves over the edge of said damper plate when said piston-cylinder moves relative to the latter,

(I) a disk closing the upper end of said piston-cylinder and having an opening in which said bushing rotates,

(in) a coil spring in said piston-cylinder between the bottom of the latter and the bottom of said damper plate, and

(n) cam means between said disk and said bushing for periodically lifting said actuator against the tension of said spring and then releasing it to cause the actuation of said valve stem.

11. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of (a) an upright support,

(11) a horizontally disposed bracket plate on said support with a vertical opening therein,

(c) a reciprocatory valve actuator mounted on said support for vertical sliding movement above the opening in said plate,

(d) means on said support for periodically reciprocating said actuator,

(e) an aerosol container with a valve mechanism having a projecting slidable discharge stem which is spring actuated to a valve closed position, and

(1) means removably suspending said container from said plate at its opening, whereby said actuator will periodically actuate said valve stem.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which said means for suspending said container comprises a member fixed to the top portion of said container and having upwardly projecting resilient and shouldered prongs which snap into said opening in the bracket plate.

13. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of (a) a support,

(b) an aerosol container having a valve mechanism 1'0 With an upwardly projecting spring actuated slidable valve discharge stem,

(0) means on said support for removably holding said container,

(0.) valve actuating means including a vertically reciprocating member positioned above said container,

(e) an elongated spray nozzle projecting downwardly from the lower end of said member and having a transversely extending spray discharge passage and a communicating longitudinal passage opening through the lower end of said nozzle.

(f) means mounting said valve actuating means on said support with said longitudinally extending passage in telescopic engagement with said valve stem, and

(g) means on said support for periodically reciprocating said member to actuate the valve mechanism of said container.

14-. The combination of claim 13 together with a sealing sleeve in the end of said longitudinally extending passage and in engagement with said valve stem.

15. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of (a) a casing having separable front and back sections, the front section having a spray discharge opening and the back section being an upright supporting plate,

(11) upper and lower bracket plates projecting forwardly from said back plate and having openings therein,

(0) an electric motor unit with speed reduction gearing mounted on the top of said upper bracket plate and having a driven shaft extending downwardly through the latter,

(d) an aerosol container having a spring closed valve mechanism with an upwardly projecting vertically slidable valve discharge stem,

(e) means between the top of said container and the opening in said lower bracket plate for suspending said container with its valve stem disposed in axial alinement with said shaft,

(f) a reciprocatory cylindrical valve actuator disposed between said bracket plates in axial alinement with said shaft and said valve stem,

(g) an annular series of guide rods between said bracket plates for guiding said actuator in its sliding movement,

(h) a spray nozzle depending from the bottom of said actuator and having a telescopic engagement with said valve stem,

(1') cam means between said actuator and said shaft for periodically lifting and releasing said actuator,

(j) spring means for moving said actuator and its nozzle downwardly to actuate said valve stem when said actuator is released by said cam means,

(k) a spray tip on said nozzle disposed opposite said opening in the front section of said casing,

(I) stop means on said actuator in sliding engagement with one of said guide rods for preventing rotation of said actuator,

(m) and a stop sleeve on said one of said guide rods for engagement by said stop means for limiting the downward movement of said actuator, and

(n) means within said cylindrical actuator for dampenin the downward movement of the same.

16 In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including walls forming an annular shoulder and supporting an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof, which protuberance communicates with the interior of said container; and an element having upwardly projecting resilient prongs having spaced shoulder means thereon, one of said shoulder means cooperating with the annular shoulder on said cup-shaped top, and the other shoulder means being adapted to cooperate with a hole within a supporting plate having a 11 diameter less than the diameter of said other shoulder means, whereby said container can be suspended from said plate.

17. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top supporting an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof, which protuberance communicates with the interior of said container; and a cupshaped element attached to said container, said element including a bottom having means forming a hole therein of less diameter than said protuberance, whereby when said cup-shaped element is forced into said cup-shaped top, said protuberance causes the means forming said bottom to securely grip said protuberance, said element also including upwardly projecting resilient prongs having shoulder means thereon adapted to be snapped through a hole in a supporting plate of a diameter less than that of said shoulder means to thereby suspend said container from said plate.

Vogl Mar. 29, 1960 Edelstein et al. Jan. 10, 1961 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER SET FORTH, THE COMBINATION OF (A) AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING UPPER AND LOWER BRACKETS, (B) AN ELECTRIC MOTOR UNIT WITH SPEED REDUCTION GEARING, MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER BRACKET AND HAVING A DRIVEN SHAFT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY, (C) AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A VALVE MECHANISM WITH A PROJECTING SLIDABLE DISCHARGE STEM WHICH IS SPRING ACTUATED TO A VALVE CLOSED POSITION, (D) MEANS FOR SUSPENDING SAID CONTAINER FROM SAID LOWER BRACKET WITH SAID VALVE STEM DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY AXIAL ALINEMENT WITH SAID SHAFT, (E) A RECIPROCATORY VALVE ACTUATOR DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS WITH ITS AXIS IN SUBSTANTIALLY AXIAL ALINEMENT WITH SAID SHAFT AND THE VALVE STEM, 